A government nursery in Bihar's Jehanabad district is drawing attention for helping farmers get sturdy vegetable seedlings ready in remarkably little time. Farmer Surendra Sharma, who works at the nursery, explains that when the bed is prepared the right way, a vegetable seedling sprouts in just 8 days and becomes fully ready within 15 days. Sharma has spent the past one year at this nursery in Ghosi block growing various kinds of saplings, and he walked through the entire bed preparation process step by step.
According to Sharma, the first thing to get right before starting a vegetable nursery is understanding the season, since different vegetable crops grow in different seasons. Farmers who prepare their vegetables according to the season find it easier to sell their produce, because demand in the market lines up with what they are growing.
Preparing the soil before building the bed
To set up the nursery bed, the soil at the spot where seeds will be sown is first dug or hoed. This soil is then removed and kept aside in a separate place. Doing this allows sunlight to reach the cleared spot evenly, and after a few days of sun exposure, harmful insects present in the soil are also destroyed, giving the seedlings a safer start.
Getting the fertiliser ratio right
The soil that was set aside is then mixed with fertiliser. Sharma says DAP and potash are used for this, with roughly 2 to 2.5 kilograms of the mixture needed per katha of land. Only once this soil and fertiliser blend is fully ready does the actual seed sowing begin.
From sowing seeds to watering
Once the soil is ready, seeds are sown and then placed into tubes for planting. Until the seedling germinates, water is given only through a sprinkler so the delicate seeds are not damaged. Once the plant emerges from the soil, regular watering can be carried out.
Why shielding seedlings from direct sunlight matters
Sharma stresses one more crucial point: growing seedlings should never be exposed to direct sunlight, as this can harm the tender plants. A green net is used to protect them from this. Following this entire process correctly means the seedling sprouts in just 8 days and is fully ready, for planting or for sale, within 15 days.
